I am a sociocultural anthropologist and folklorist. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, Bloomington. My research centers on the use of communal belief narratives that circulate within a group—such as legends or conspiracy theories—as a way of remembering and discussing episodes of conflict and crisis. My current dissertation research examines the ways in which ghost narratives are used to remember individuals and communities harmed by protracted conflict in Ireland and Northern Ireland and how those stories impact the relationship people have with certain geographic locations.
Folklore + Anthropology
The disciplines of folkloristics and sociocultural anthropology are two distinct fields, yet there is quite a bit of overlap in what they study and how they approach it. I bring these two fields together in my research because I firmly believe that my training as an anthropologist improves my folkloristics and my training as a folklorist improves my anthropological practice.
If you are interested in seeing the convergences and differences in how concepts, methodologies, and conversations are approached in sociocultural anthropology and folkloristics, check out the posts below.
A Brief History of Folkloristics &/+/vs. Anthropology
If you are interested in how I think about folklore, check out this interview I did with anthropologist Teeka Gray.
Jesse A. Fivecoate 